Monday, 27 June 2011
Happy anniversary.
Well today is our second wedding anniversary. And this morning you went out for coffee and brought me roses. I love you.
For those of you who know me, can you actual believe it been two years since I said yes to the most gorgeous man on the planet? And for those who REALLY, REALLY know me can you believe someone said yes to marrying me?
Thank you for everything you do for me. I love that my family love you, especially my dad. I love that the day we got married you made the happiest of my life. I love that when we sat in the church and I started to sweat you wiped my back with your sleeve. I love that when I wanted to go to Mexico on our honeymoon you kissed me and said yes without any complaints. I love that when we walked into our new home and I didn't like the paint you painted it. I love that when my back went you helped me off the toilet. I love that when I had a bad day you brought me flowers and ice cream. I love that when we got of the plane after arriving in Athens you held my hand. I love that when I cry, you hold me and patch my feet up. I love that when I ask a tramp to come home with me to use the shower you said ok. I love that when I wanted to go to Romania you prayed for me. I love you and thank you.
The truth is your very easy to love, even though you want to build a submarine. Even though you get sick on fair ground rides and don't talk to me for a whole day because I laugh. Even though you love to make spreadsheets. Even though the thing you do to relax is make arcatm news and build websites.
It been great watching you grow in faith and love this year of our marriage. It been so much fun learning with you. Learning how to cope with difficult people and new situations. I just love to be with you. Your my best friend. Once again thank you for putting up with me for the last five years. I look forward to many more adventures.
Sunday, 26 June 2011
The little things.
Recently I talked to a Christian guy – a 'real Christian does good, works for the Lord, does not swear, does not drink', Christian guy. Now I know what you are thinking... he hated you right? Well maybe, but because he was a good Christian he never showed it. He was on a short-term mission trip to Romania when I was there and we got talking about what we both did. As we were talking, I realised that he didn't believe that God acted in people's lives in small ways, only in big. To be honest I was more than a little shocked. I love the little things that God does for me; a small breeze when it is baking hot; getting a message from a friend when I have had a crap day; even parking spaces when it is really busy and you are late for something (yep that's God too sometimes). These 'little' things occur each day so that we know that He is constantly thinking of us. I wondered where he drew the line between a small thing and a big thing. I was completely knocked back and I couldn't think about anything else other than telling Him about what God had done for me in Athens one day:
A young Nigerian girl we met on the streets one night came to the office. She was tired and didn't want to work on the streets any more (praise God, big thing). Within two weeks we had worked with other Non-Government-Organisations and she was flying home to Nigeria on a Friday morning. As most of you will know, we work late on a Thursday (11.00pm – 2.00am) and normally we get home about 2.30am and often get to sleep as late as 4.00am. We had also had a hugely busy week and was looking forward to a long lay-in the next morning. However her flight was at 12.00pm and we needed to pick her up from the shelter at 8.30am. Tired wasn't even the word! We were completed exhausted. We got to the metro station early and from this station the train normally takes about 45 minutes to get to the airport. It runs every 30mins and in a city over 4 million, this train is always busy. Normally we are forced to stand in someone's armpit, realising as time went on what exactly they had for breakfast. Because most of the people on this train are going to the airport, if you don't get a seat at the beginning you will have to stand for the whole journey. I got to the platform and prayed 'God we are really tired and I don't think I can stand for this long. Please, please, PLEASE can we have a seat? Just one will do' (Annette will give up her seat for me). The station filled up as the train pulled into the station and, as was expected, the train was full.
I could have cried. Most of the time I love working for God and I love being able to see what He is doing in Athens but this was not one of those times, 'God, I am so happy you have saved this young girl, but next time please let the flight be at 6pm and maybe on a Wednesday'. We shuffled and shoved our way onto the train. People were standing, squashed right up to the door. There to my surprise were three seats with no one sat in them. There were people standing all around but it was as if no one else had seen them. We all sat down. Praise God!
So, I wanted to tell this man the most important thing that God has done for me while I have been in Athens, even if it seemed unimportant to him. I told him, I have seen people saved from prostitution, I’ve seen drug addicts cry out to God in desperation, I’ve seen hope restored in people who had lived for years without hope, but the most important thing God has done for me was give me a seat on a train when I was tired.
What little things has God done for you? Do you thank Him for them?
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Day 28- Your Most Treasured Item
It is so hot in Athens at the moment 34c today, going up to 39c on Saturday. This fan is my god right now!
Monday, 20 June 2011
Sunday, 19 June 2011
Thursday, 16 June 2011
Day 25 - You And A Famous Person
What a funny and wet day, If the camera went any further down you would see I am not wearing any trousers and that is because London got flooded and we were trapped at the BBC studios soaked and with Ainsley Harriott.
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Day 23 - Something That Has Had A Huge Impact On Your Life Recently
Greece, Sunshine Missions, New Friends, This whole year.
Friday, 10 June 2011
Thursday, 9 June 2011
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Day 20- Something You Wish You Were Better At.
I recently visited Romania and although I am having lessons from a very good and teacher, I'm just not very good at learning new languages and I wish I were.
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Sunday, 5 June 2011
Saturday, 4 June 2011
You're a joke!
In my mind there isn't much worse than child sex slavery. I honestly think God would not put me in this mission field because I would be afraid of what I would do to someone committing these crimes. I know what you're thinking, I shouldn't say that because that it will probably where God will put me next. Even talking about it has upset me for days and writing this will ensure that I won't get much sleep tonight. Did you know:
- Child/Human Trafficking is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world. Child/ human trafficking is the world’s second largest criminal enterprise, after drugs. U.S. State Department
- The global market of child trafficking at over $12 billion a year with over 1.2 million child victims. UNICEF
- As many as 2.8 million children run away each year in the US. Within 48 hours of hitting the streets, one-third of these children are lured or recruited into the underground world of prostitution and pornography. The National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children
- The average age of entry for children victimized by the sex trade industry is 12 years. U.S. Department of Justice
- Approximately 80% of human trafficking victims are women and girls and up to 50% are minors. U.S. State Department
- The average number of victims for non-incestuous paedophiles who molest girls is 20, for paedophiles who prefer boys 100! The Association For the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA)
- 300,000 children in the U.S. are at risk every year for commercial sexual exploitation. U.S. Department of Justice
- 600,000 – 800,000 people are bought and sold across international borders each year; 50% are children, most are female. The majority of these victims are forced into the commercial sex trade. U.S. Department of State, 2004, Trafficking in Persons Report, Washington, D.C.
- An estimated 14,500 to 17,500 foreign nationals are trafficked into the United States each year. The number of U.S. citizens trafficked within the country is even higher, with an estimated 200,000 American children at risk for trafficking into the sex industry. U.S. Department of Justice Report to Congress from Attorney General John Ashcroft on U.S. Government Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons
- Investigators and researchers estimate the average predator in the U.S. can make more than $200,000 a year off one young girl. NBC Report by Teri Williams
- An average serial child molester may have as many as 400 victims in his lifetime. Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Study
- Child pornography is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States right now. Nationally, there has been a 2500% increase in arrests in 10 years. FBI
- The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which helps to identify and locate children in pornography photos and videos, says it’s staff reviewed more than 10.5 million images in 2009 alone.
- Reports of exploited children grow every year, in 2009, the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children received more than 120,000 reports on its cyber tip line. In 2010, the number grew to over 160,000 with the vast majority being from child pornography.
I love to hear stories of amazing people fighting again this, people from around the world giving their lives to save the lives of children who deserve better.
Unfortunately I have recently seen something that made me sick to my stomach,
I can't even begin to imagine who came up with this slogan but it seems to me someone is having a joke. I'm all about seeing funny things in horrible situations, in fact I have laughed my way through many horrible situations to save myself from crying. But really child sex slavery is not funny and how dare these people infect the public with this horrific excuse for a campaign. As a missionary I see people working extremely hard in the fight against anti-trafficking and see people who have worked endlessly to help those in need on a minimal budget. Then suddenly anti-trafficking is the 'in' topic and famous people rush to start campaigns throwing money at tv ads and t-shirts and slogans. My question is do they really care? Will they be able to spend all their time and effort helping these people or when the next big thing comes up will they run to that and throw their weight against that. Please don't get me wrong, I am happy that people are interested. I’m glad that money is flowing in because it needs to be stopped. What I hate are celebrities thinking that they know best and creating add campaigns that are a joke. It's important that more people actually do things to help and do less trying to spread the word, do more, say less.
What do you think of this?
Friday, 3 June 2011
Romania in pictures
This is my recent trip to Romania in pictures because I'm way lazy and can't be arsed to write anymore, if you want our newsletter just ASK!
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| Rain |
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| Car Crash |
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| Space For The Launch |
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| Picture Of The Pope In The House We Stayed In |
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| Beautiful Church |
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| Gaz (Love146) |
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| Campaign Poster |
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| Viorica Doing Her Thing |
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| Writing On The Wall Of The Office |
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| The Salt Mines |
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| In The Mines |
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| Bible Verses On The Wall At The Shelter |
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| Me And Viorica Completed Knackered, Going Home. |
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